Complete Story

03/16/2020

The Coronavirus Is Already Making the Census Less Effective

It's going to be more difficult to count people living in seclusion

Already saddled with cybersecurity risks, hiring challenges and wavering public trust, the 2020 census now must contend with a growing public health crisis.

NPR has learned that at least one U.S. Census Bureau employee — who was recently hired as a supervisor for a group of door knockers, spokesperson Michael Cook says, and has not interacted with the public on behalf of the bureau — has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been quarantined.

"The employee is following guidance of the Iowa Department of Public Health," Cook said in an email.